Stone Sour - Come What(ever) May review
The Grade:
Come What(ever) May: B+
The Review:
It’s nearly impossible to mention Stone Sour without instantly reminding yourself of Corey Taylor’s other band, you know those guys who made quite a splash in the music world with a little tiny band called Slipknot. However, in all fairness to this “not a side-project,” you have to listen objectively to enjoy this band.
“30/30-150″ starts off with a bang, but the lyrics turn what could have been a standout track into an eye-rolling piece of mediocrity. For those who like angry, in-your-face lyrics may enjoy the message but some parts are almost laughably juvenile.
The worthy title track is definitely a lyrical step up. It is a politically driven track, but regardless of its rhetoric, it is still a very listen-able song.
The album slows all the way for the semi-acoustic “Silly World.” Although this isn’t what Stone Sour does best, it is still an enjoyable 80’s rock-esque anthem that speeds up enough to not drag down the pace of the album.
“Reborn” is one of the albums standout tracks, with it’s well timed and perfectly produced screams. It’s the type of song that hits all the right notes, and is one of those tracks that could get the pit going.
The radio-ready “Through Glass” is exactly that, a song for the radio. This song is so blatantly marketable to rock radio that it would make Staind blush. Sorry, Jake, but Staind hasn’t made a respectable album since they lost any type of credibility after their exceptional “Dysfunction.”
Thankfully, Stone Sour aren’t as gutless as the previously mentioned mainstream light-rock top 40 band, but they are running the risk of losing some fans after the soft “Through Glass” and then the almost equally soft “Socio.” The catchy hook sounds as if it’s screaming for mainstream attention, without screaming.
Along with “Reborn,” “Made of Scars” is one of the songs that definitely makes you want to hit the repeat button. If it was a little heavier/screamier it would be a near perfect track on an album that’s already really good.
The best soft song on the album is “Zzyzx Rd”. The piano driven, melodic track doesn’t feel as contrived as the earlier “slow” songs. My good friend, Jake Dahn, will really like this song because it sounds like Stone Sour may have went a little emo with this song. This may alienate some fans, but I feel this is actually a very good track.
Overall, while not having the crunchy-riff punch nor the lyrical aggressiveness of its predecessor, this is a much more balanced album and a very respectable one at that. This from some of the guys that brought you the masked masters of calculated mayhem that drove a generation of easily influenced school kids to wear funny clothes and profess their loyalty to the now infamous Slipknot. Besides two or three nearly disastrous missteps, this is an album that can easily spend some time in any heavy-rock rotation.
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Nice review. I have to say I’ve missed hearing Corey’s voice - I’ve always thought he did a good job vocally.
Sameer on August 1st, 2006 3:53 pm
Hey bud, just for the record Break The Cycle, owns Dysfunction.
But yeah, I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of Stone Sour. I would say they are a good listen every once in a while, but on this album some of the lyrics are lame, but it has beat.
jakedahn on August 1st, 2006 5:28 pm
Juvenile is semi- a good description…I would say corny…but I love the album, however it says something that when someone comes right out and says something it is considered corny…Dave Mustaine…are you listening???
Speaking of that…anyone see him talk about pantera on the dimebag tribute…if you have any respect for him… don’t watch it…you’ll lose it. I’d say all in all a good review and called it where you know the die hard metal fans will be turned off (one major key song can do it for most)
Patrick on August 10th, 2006 12:34 am
i think it is a great album and really rockin. but i thought it would be heavier with corey taylor and james root from slipknot being in the band
joe on August 10th, 2006 12:29 pm
If you want hard and heavy, just wait for the next Slipknot CD to come out. It will be the most brutal album to date.
I listened to this CD time and time again and have to say if you crank it up and just listen closely, you’ll begin to notice that a lot of thought and work went into this CD.
Corey’s vocals are absolutely extraordinary. His vocal range is so good, that he actually has many different styles of singing. It’s an ability that few singers can boast.
The songs flow with haunting riffs and melodies, brutal outbursts and well timed tempo changes. I always hated when every song on a CD sounds alike, this isn’t one of those CDs.
The ballad type songs are great, with one exception… “Through Glass”, even though the progressive flow of the lyrics are kind of catchy.
Paul on August 10th, 2006 6:06 pm
STOP COMPARING STONE SOUR TO SLIPKNOT!!! they are a completely different band, there is no need to compare them just because they have two of the same members, dont say well they suck comparted to slipknot, because it’s a completely different style of music, its like saying well jay z is better than linkin park, similar, but nowhere near the same stlye
kasey on August 15th, 2006 10:13 pm
You can’t tell people to stop comparing the two band whenever anyone who likes slipknot or just the way ‘the sickness’ screams should like slipknot. If they don’t than they are just being stupid, and not listening to the lyrics. Let me just say that comparing jay z to linkin park is a stupid example. comparing slipknot to stone sour is like comparing white zombie to rob zombie. They are almost the same sound and share similar attributes, but they have their differences. So for anyone about to contridict me or tell me I’m an idiot… just remember… “Everyone defamates from miles away, but face to face they haven’t got a thing to say.”
some one smart said this… I’ll leave the guessing to you.
Leon on September 7th, 2006 4:59 pm
Fantastic Album.
Yes comparing this to Slipknot was always going to be silly. Totally different bands even if they do share the same people.
Corey Taylor has grown up a lot which is noticeable. I quite like the punky style lyrics to 30/30 150, and wouldn’t call the laughable at all.
Through Glass is a fantastic song whatever way you look at it. Whether it would go onto the radio or not is irrelevant, I could listen to that song again and again and not get bored.
However I agree that the best song on the album is Zzyxz. Rd.
Emo lyrics to the max unfortunately put me off at first. But it hasn’t got a gay emo sounds and a high voice going with it so I’m fine with it. It’s depressing, but is the sort of song you could listen to if you are upset.
4.5/5
Dan Edwards on September 16th, 2006 5:02 pm
why do people assume that stone sour should sound slipknot, its a way for corey to express himself differently and dont forget that there is 3 other members in the band that ar not from slipknot. oh and leon, i’ll call you an idiot face to face, you condemm anything anyone says who doesn’t agree with you as if whatever you say is final, and your quote hardly left anyone guessing.
potter on September 28th, 2006 11:49 am
stone sour rule and i am a maggot 1st, but i hate it wen ppl compare stone sour to slipknot there 2 different bands, corey can take a different aproche with stone sour, and the kid that said some of the lyrics are lame you not listening to the lyrics on the album coz i think there some of the strongest his ever writen. corey is the king of metal and ppl just do0nt under stand how god a song writer he is most ppl just see slipknot wen they look at him, but theres more and it will shoke you, the next knot album will shokle millions but it wont shoke me coz i suspect the unexpected with him
maggot7 on October 2nd, 2006 5:46 am
your lame i hate emos go home and stop playing emo music you dumb ppl
not telling losers on December 10th, 2006 11:48 pm
i hate emo ppl please edont playing that type of music
not telling losers on December 10th, 2006 11:49 pm
Whoever “not telling losers” is, u should maybe think about what u say. Ok, emos are scum, but Stone Sour aren’t emos, and if u think they r then u obviusly havent listened 2 them at all, which means u cant say anything about people who like and listen to them. By the way, I’d be interested to know what u listen to?
Anyway, i think this is a great review of a good album. This album shows how the band have grown and moved on since their last release, it’s a lot more refined and flowing. I agree about Corey’s lyrics though, i love the material he uses with slipknot, but i thought that the themes on this cd got a bit samey (i’m sorry if i’ve offended anyone by comparing the two bands lol).
This album has a real pulse to it, is NOT emo, and is definately worth buying.
will_no8 on January 27th, 2007 1:32 pm